The criteria for judging mainstream versus non-mainstream should not be a matter of debating and refuting each other's views.
Nowadays, some people are accustomed to asking right and wrong first when looking at issues, and are eager to discuss what is right and wrong. However, dialectical materialism holds that things are in motion and developing, and there is no eternal boundary between the mainstream and the non-mainstream.
Over a century ago, in the era of horse-drawn carriages, automobiles were not mainstream; in the old days of kerosene lamps, light bulbs were not mainstream… New things like Taobao and WeChat were not mainstream in their early stages. Countless historical facts prove that irresponsible "final conclusions" often end in a resounding "slap in the face."
Unfortunately, many people can only judge things from their own limited perspective, standpoint, and specific time and space, and cannot break through their own limitations to look at problems.
Mainstream is just a relative concept
Humanity took tens of thousands of years to transition from the Stone Age to the Fire Age, then thousands more to evolve into the Agricultural Age, and then thousands more to usher in the Industrial Age. Throughout this period, every technological advancement has seen the so-called "non-mainstream" replacing the former "mainstream."
It seems that the word "mainstream" has become synonymous with "I'm awesome, who cares?" Just like the word "sentiment" has taken on a different meaning now.
Recently, Dong Mingzhu and Yinlong New Energy have once again become a hot topic. Huang Shilin, president of CATL, publicly stated that Dong Mingzhu has invested all her wealth in lithium titanate batteries, but due to their relatively low energy density, they will not be mainstream in the future, and he is not very optimistic about this technology.
Judging the quality of a power battery solely based on whether it is "mainstream" or not seems like a weak argument.
Truth is relative and infinite; how can the standard for judging all things be so singular and absolute?
Back then, Galileo's two small iron balls thrown from the Leaning Tower of Pisa completely overturned the ancient Greek mechanics theory represented by "mainstream authorities" such as Aristotle. It was this "non-mainstream" theory that allowed Newton to propose the "three laws" on this basis.
In 2015, Yinlong received nearly 7,000 orders, representing an annual growth rate of 2,228%, and rapidly grew into one of the leading companies in my country's new energy vehicle industry.
From acquiring Altair in the US to developing the fourth-generation high-energy-density lithium titanate battery, doesn't Yinlong recognize the future development potential and huge business opportunities of lithium titanate batteries? And are the investments in Yinlong by excellent capital groups such as Dalian Wanda Group and CIMC Group simply because they are "foolish and rich" or just because of Dong Mingzhu's personal connections? The business world is like a battlefield, and shrewd entrepreneurs naturally see the development prospects of lithium titanate.
Dong Mingzhu bluntly stated: "Some people are short-sighted, only seeing what's in front of them." Wang Jianlin, Chairman of Wanda Group, said when investing in Yinlong: "The role of entrepreneurs lies in having foresight and being able to see things that others cannot."
The word "mainstream" is not the standard for judging whether a company is good or bad. Consumers are always smart, and the market is the true test. Whether a company has real capabilities cannot be hidden from them.
No power battery is perfect.
Speaking with facts and real ability is the standard for judging right and wrong. The word "mainstream" is just a label imposed by the times.
Currently, the development status of new energy vehicles in China is characterized by a wide variety of battery types. The key indicators that the market is most concerned about for batteries are concentrated in five aspects: safety and stability performance, cycle life, wide temperature range, charging speed, and energy density.
In terms of power batteries, ternary lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and lithium titanate batteries are currently used in the electric vehicle field.
Due to the high energy density and relatively long driving range of ternary lithium batteries, domestic automakers, including BAIC, BYD, and JAC, have increasingly switched to using them in their passenger vehicles. However, ternary lithium batteries have drawbacks such as poor safety, poor high-temperature resistance, and short lifespan. In early 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suspended the use of ternary lithium battery buses in the list of recommended models for the promotion and application of new energy vehicles.
Compared to ternary lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries are increasingly active in the electric bus market due to their advantages such as stable safety performance, good high-temperature performance, and light weight. However, their poor low-temperature performance and low tap density of cathode materials make them less advantageous in the field of micro-batteries.
Following the high-profile collaboration between Gree Electric Appliances and Zhuhai Yinlong, lithium titanate batteries—a type of power battery that had previously received little market attention—have stepped into the spotlight. Dong Mingzhu has stated on multiple occasions that she wants to be someone who "digs gold out of the sand." So, can Dong Mingzhu achieve the same success with lithium titanate batteries as Wang Chuanfu with lithium iron phosphate batteries or Elon Musk with ternary lithium batteries?
Lithium titanate batteries are also the longest-lasting and safest type of lithium battery. In terms of lifespan, ordinary lithium-ion batteries have about 1,000-2,000 cycles, while lithium titanate batteries have 30,000 cycles, which is 15 times that of the former. Moreover, Yinlong New Energy has mastered the core technology of lithium titanate globally, overcoming the industry's recognized "five major problems" and achieving excellent characteristics such as 6-minute fast charging, wide temperature resistance, 30-year cycle life, and no fire or explosion.
In the field of power batteries, the low energy density of batteries is the reason why some people in the industry criticize lithium titanate batteries as "not mainstream".
Yinlong has publicly acknowledged the low energy density of its lithium titanate batteries on multiple occasions. Yinlong has also stated that it is actively researching and improving this shortcoming. Currently, Yinlong's fourth-generation high-energy-density lithium titanate battery reduces costs by 40% and increases energy density by 60% compared to the third generation. Furthermore, Yinlong has mastered the core technology of hydrogen titanium research, which will effectively solve the battery energy density problem. By combining lithium titanate batteries and fuel cells, it has successfully solved the problem of limited driving range for new energy vehicles.
Let's give technology more time and respect.
"China has 1.3 billion people. Aren't there any young people in China who can match Steve Jobs in terms of intelligence, personality, and innovation? Proportionally, yes, there are. They are like seeds, but unfortunately, they have fallen into an intolerant cultural soil. Tolerance is the water of innovation. Without the water of tolerance, the soil can hardly support innovation. No matter how good the seed is, it will not grow into a Steve Jobs." Zhou Hongyi, the founder of 360, once clearly stated.
In the early stages of something new, it's often met with misunderstanding and distrust. If it performs well, people call it a madman; if it doesn't, they call it insane or a fraud. But once it succeeds in doing what was initially criticized, and builds a company worth billions or hundreds of billions, suddenly everyone is praising it, creating a legend for it…
The Chinese mentality of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down" has stifled countless ideas. We've been advocating for technological innovation for so many years, but in reality, can we offer more tolerance and encouragement to those "innovative moves"?
We see that it is precisely because Lei Jun and Xiaomi, Jack Ma and Taobao, and countless other entrepreneurs and startups dare to choose an innovative path that breaks with convention and pursues excellence that millions of users may have the opportunity to enjoy better products and services.
In this era of constant change, society is developing and technology is advancing.
Currently, the energy density gap between lithium titanate batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries is narrowing. Coupled with the positive stimulus of lithium titanate battery technology being included in the subsidy policy catalog, the industry is optimistic that lithium titanate batteries will develop rapidly in 3 to 5 years and form a three-way balance with ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries in the power lithium battery market.
Technological progress needs to be viewed dialectically. The true meaning of innovation lies in daring to take risks that others cannot, and creating the possibility of better products and services that others cannot create. We should give more respect to those who possess this spirit.
To build good new energy vehicles, technological innovation in power batteries also needs a tolerant environment. Giving innovators more time would also give China's auto industry a new opportunity.
